Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has ordered immediate revocation of ownership rights on all undeveloped lands within the Ibom Industrial Park at Mbak Itam 3, Itu Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Eno who gave the directive while inspecting the Industrial park ahead of the proposed establishment of fashion and shoe factories in the area, premised the revocation order on overriding public interest and urged the Commissioner for Lands, Capt. Iniobong Ekong, rtd. to ensure enforcement of the order by revoking all such ownership rights and reclaim the lands for government.
He restated the readiness of government to bring in investors to utilize the space and create jobs for the people.
According to the Governor, the State government was also considering reconstruction of collapsed roads around the area to ease transportation for the industries that would sprout within the industrial park.
He frowned at the idea of a few privileged persons acquiring parcels of land in the area designated by the state government for industries and not utilizing the lands for the intended purpose, maintaining that such acquisition is unacceptable as it is tilted towards frustrating the good intentions of his administration as spelt out in the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda blueprint.
Fielding questions from Government House Correspondents, Governor Eno said: “I have just directed that all lands within that Industrial park that have not been developed into industries, I don’t mean building one small house, be revoked by the Honourable Commissioner .
“There is an Industrial park here. For over ten years, people just acquired the lands and didn’t do anything. It doesn’t make sense at all. It is either they tell us what they want to do, give us the time line and then we monitor it or we will reclaim those lands and then use it for the purpose for which it was meant for in the original master plan”.
The Governor directed that portions of lands in the area be set aside for the construction of clothing and shoe factories to complement the remodelling drive of government in the education sector.
These, he explained, will avail the state government clothes and foot wears for supply to school children without interference of the middlemen and solicited the cooperation of the people in his initiative.
“I would like to beg the Akwa Ibom People to allow us do what will benefit the generality of the public”, he added.
Very great wisdom from my Governor Pastor Umo Eno
This revocation doesn’t go well with many, please I would like to kindly ask how does the government intend to appease the owners of this land who have authority of ownership